Oregon asks state court to clear way for gun magazine ban

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon's attorney general on Wednesday asked the state Supreme Court to overturn a lower court judge's decision and allow a tough new voter-approved gun law to take effect this week.

The measure, which includes a ban on the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines, was due to take effect Thursday, but Harney County Judge Robert Raschio blocked it on Tuesday, just hours after a federal court ruled in favor of the law.

The Oregon Department of Justice argued in an urgent filing that Raschio got it wrong.

“Magazine capacity restrictions and permitting requirements have a proven track record: they save lives!” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement. "We are confident the Oregon Constitution — like the Second Amendment of the U.S. constitution — allows these reasonable regulations.”

Several lawsuits have challenged Measure 114, which voters narrowly approved last month. The law requires permits, criminal background checks, fingerprinting and hands-on training courses for new gun buyers.

It also bans the sale, transfer or import of magazines over 10 rounds unless they are owned by law enforcement or a military member or were owned before the measure’s passage. Those who already possess high-capacity magazines can only have them in their homes or use them at firing ranges, in shooting competitions or for hunting as allowed by state law after the measure takes effect.

It would also close a federal loophole that allows gun transfers to proceed if background checks cannot be completed quickly.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut delivered an initial victory to proponents of the measure, issuing a decision allowing the ban on the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines to take effect Thursday. She also granted a 30-day...